Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-11-24
WHO GOVERNS US7
No Hope for Prohibition Except Through
the Prohibition Party.

No Hope for Prohibition Except Through
the Prohibition Party.
One of the most widespread political
delusions of our day is the idea that all
that is necessary to remedy political
evils is to vote for "good men," So
prevalent is this delusion recognized
to be, that politics. as DR.. Josiah
Strong pointed out in his speech at the
Brooklyn conference, has come to be a
matter of personalities. each side try
ing to convince the voter that its NOM
inee is the better man. Some of the
very best citizens that we have. the
most intelligent, most conscientious,
most Independent, are the ones who
are hugging this delusion most closely
to their hearts. They feel they have
done their whole duty if they cut loose
from party ties and vote for 1.-THE best
men" irrespective of party. A stock
argument against the Prohibition
party is that we can much sooner ac-
complish our purpose by voting for the
best temperance men on the old party
tickets. The panacea for all political
corruption is to place men of good
character in office.
This is fundamental delusion and
sham. It is true the ballot is cast os-
tensibly for this man or that man; but
that is not all ball,t means in our
day. 1t means a vote for this party or
that, behind the man. 1t means
vote for this policy or chat,
as embodied in the party's plat
form or record. And it is the party's
policy, not the nominees personal
opinions. that win in his election. In
short, we are governed by parties, not
by individuals. 1t is important that
we have good men in office. but it is
vastly more important that we have
a good party in power This is true,
no matter whether we are after civil
service reform or temperance reform,
or any other policy. TO elect Il man
who believes in it, amounts to little if
the party behind him is opposed to it.
An instance of this is found in Presi-
dent CIeveland's course. He is. per-
sonally, without any doubt, believer
in civil service reform. What is more.
he was elected on civil service reform
platform. He gave the most satisfac-
tory assurances to the Civil Service Re-
form Association. And finally, he is
man of exceptionally strong resistant
power. But what have all these things
been to the fact that the party behind
him is opposed to the policy? Let
George William Curtis's recent strong
criticisms of the Presidents violations
of the spirit of civil service reform an
swer. AS some one has said, ''tenden-
cies are stronger than men,"
Take another instance. Governor
Ames, Of Massachusetts, is temper
ance man. the head of a State temper
ance organization. Many men voted
for him thinking they were putting in
strong stroke for the temperance
cause. But the truth is, Mr.. Ames'
personal views and Governor Ames'
public policy have been entirely differ
ent. In the latter. he has followed the
policy of the Republican party to which
he owed his elevation. and, temper
ance man though he is, has appointed
commissioners in Boston who have
gone on in the same way as their pre-
decessors. licensing hell-holes by the
thousands. There has not been an iota
hn
cause in the elevation to the highest
office in the State of this head of q tenn
perance society. Why not? Because
the policy of his party, not his own
personal views, were dominant in his
administration. And we are not sure
but they were rightly dominant Par
ties rule, not individuals.
1t is every citizens duty to consider
not merely the character of the NOM
inee, but the tendency that has placed
him in nomination. the issues on which
his campaign is waged. the organized
party behind him, and its purposes. If
men are after the sentimental gains to
temperance. that is one thing. But if
they are after gains that means some
thing, that will strike terror to the
liquor fraternity, they must vote for a
man and for party behind him that
means stern opposition to the saloons.
There is but one party that means
that.
1t is one of the favorite tricks of po-
litical schemers to put forward NOM
inee of good personal character as a
mere figure-head-as bait Gudgeons
will bite at this, and SO will sensible
men for while. But, as Lincoln said:
You may fool all the people part of
the time; and you may fool part of
people all of the time; but you can't
fool all the people all the time
The Republican and Democratic par
ties are bound by the necessities of the
case. bound by the makeup of their
machines" to protect the saloons by